... Actors wanted? SIR,-- R.B. Jago in his letters to THE STAGE appears to be obsessed with the value of National Council drama accreditation. This apparently is to create a further core of drama schools mainly drawn from the present conference of drama schools. Due to the peripatetic nature of drama school teachers, many of them in fact freelance and sometimes they actually teach more at non ...

... Stone cold SIR,--What is it I wonder about the form of comedy, designated 'farce', that turns many otherwise mature adults into ten-year-old children and leaves the rest of us, including myself, stone cold. Recently I saw a play that, for a considerable degree, relies for its laughs on door knobs falling ofT, trousers falling down and in which a plate of sardines figured prominently. The play ...

... A question of permission SIR, I would like to refer to the obituary of Viscount Robin Maugham (STAGE, April 12) and the fact that he had completed a one-act play, A Ques tion of Retreat shortly to be seen at Brighton Actors' Workshop. The impression given is that Viscount Maugham had written this as a stage play. In the cause of accuracy, can I just mention that this was a play especially ...

... Theatre for kids is growing up Polka puts the case for an underrated art SIR,--Your editorial on Children's Theatre (Jan 9) raises several important issues. Is serious Children's Theatre in the shadow of the Panto?. Well, pantos come and pantos go but good chil dren's theatre companies are with us all round the year, these days! Though as you rightly complain, it is unnoticed and under ...

... Back to 'Sinbad' SIR, As we are presenting what we believe to be the first large-scale production ofSinbad the Sailor to be seen in London since Sindbad at Drury Lane in 1907, I would be very interested to know if anyone is still alive that either appeared in the original show or who remembers seeing it. Our Sinbad stars Ken Dodd, in Drury Lane the stars were Walter Passmore, Harry Randall ...

... Trite tripe SIR,--I read with interest your editorial (Oct 24) concerning the critics' apparent dislike for any show that has popular appeal and, as an ordinary person, agree with your conclusion. However, I recently saw Mutiny and despite a long-standing regard for both David Essex and Frank F inlay, can only agree with the general critical opinion of this show. I found it dull, lifeless, ...

... Call for Bond to resign SIR,-- In April this year I placed a back-page advertisement in THE STAGE on behalf of Afro-Asian members of Equity urging all members to vote Yes in the referendum advising members not to work in South Africa or its dependent homelands. The majority of members who took part in the referendum voted Yes to strengthen the ban. A new council was elected early this ...

... Sticking with it SIR,-- I read with intrest Mr Philip Wrigley's letter in THE STAGE (July 191). just prior to leaving drama school, I too wrote to all the reps/sending SAEs, 10x8 photos and CVs. I too received few replies, and occasionally my 10x8 folded in four and crushed into my SAE. Worse than useless. Surely it would save the actor time, money and batterings to the fragile ego, if drama ...

... Action Replay SHEFFIELD FAY WELDON's Action Replay has marital misery for its theme but treats it with a formal wit and affectionate regard for stereotypes that puts me more in mind of Alan Ayckbourn than the feminist writers with whom she is often automatically compared. Three women, barely out of girlhood, share a student flat; one saving herself for whatever man can give her a better life ...

... Continental influence SIR, At present I am engaged in research towards a thesis on theatre in Britain in the period between the wars. My interest is the influence of continen tal production styles, specifically ex pressionism, on the dramatic work produced in this country during the period. I am hoping to gather information on the activities of the repertory theatres and smaller independent ...

... Seeing red over apartheid SIR, I was fascinated by Carol L. K. Gibbons' letter from Harlequin Lane: is she colourblind? By lumping together all opponents to apartheid as bright red revolutionaries guilty of treason against the South African Government she almost succeeds in giving apartheid a Peter Zander Komilly street London W1V STG ...

... Protesting against the Soviet system--not its performers SIR,--In regard to Elizabeth Swift's front page article on the forthcoming visit of the Bolshoi Ballet, (March 13), its first for twelve years, it is possible, and indeed probable, that there will be demonstrations by Human Rights groups wherever this Company plays within Great Britain and Ireland. These demonstrations are not against ...